Sketchaday #wig

The shelf life of the modern hardback writer is somewhere between the milk and the yogurt.

The Tap End is a 1988 episode of Thames Television's Rumpole of the Bailey, written by John Mortimer, which tackles the issue of community and judicial attitudes to domestic violence against women.

Horace Rumpole (Leo McKern) is called in to defend a member of the Timson family of petty criminals, his regular clients, on a charge of attempted murder. Tony Timson (Phil Davis) has allegedly tried to drown his wife during their bath together, over ‘slurs on his virility’. He also explains that, at his wife’s behest, he always sits at the uncomfortable ‘tap end’ of the bath.

The matter is brought before Mr Justice Featherstone (Peter Bowles) who is anxious to avoid a trial and wrap up proceedings quickly so as not to interfere with an invitation to the Royal Garden Party. In a pre-trial meeting with counsel, the judge is keen to have the charges downgraded and the matter resolved by lunchtime. Assisting Rumpole is the feminist barrister, Liz Probert (in earlier series played by Samantha Bond but now by Leo McKern’s daughter, Abigail), and she can already see which way the wind is blowing.

The charges are duly downgraded from attempted murder to common assault, to Rumpole’s satisfaction and Liz Probert’s outrage. Timson is freed on a good behaviour bond, with Justice Featherstone summing up that being forced to sit at the uncomfortable tap end of the bath is at least a partial justification for the defendant’s actions.

Liz Probert is incandescent with rage, and mobilises her women’s action group against the judge, who is lambasted in the press, not at all popular with Marigold, Lady Featherstone, and besieged by protestors.

Mrs Rumpole (She who must be obeyed) is outraged to the point that she decides to study law to defend women’s rights, and in a subsequent hearing, Featherstone tries to have the court records 'corrected' to change the nuance of his comments, but actually makes things worse by accidentally reinforcing the fact that, in his judgement, sitting at the tap end is a justifiable defence against a charge of attempted murder in a domestic situation. He is hauled before the Lord Chancellor for a disciplinary hearing, and his career hangs in the balance.

When Timson is framed for an armed robbery, it becomes apparent that the initial allegations against him were false and motivated by a love triangle involving his wife and Peanuts Molloy, from a rival and infinitely more violent crime firm. Justice Featherstone publicly redeems himself by getting to the truth.

The generally dismissive attitude by some of the male protagonists over incidences of domestic violence is an interesting theme tackled by John Mortimer, who also manages to sustain the episode's comedic aspects with Featherstone's clumsy and increasingly desperate attempts at trying to demonstrate what a strong supporter and defender of women he really is, and how he had been the victim of a terrible misunderstanding.

Leo McKern as Rumpole

In addition to repeating Cabin Pressure, BBC Radio 4 is now also bringing back Rumpole, and BBC Radio 3 - Copenhagen! 🎉

Rumpole

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Old Bailey hack Horace Rumpole. Stories written by John Mortimer and adapted by Richard Stoneman.

Rumpole and the Family Pride (was on Thursday 21 May 2020, is available for listening here)

Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle (on BBC Radio 4 - Thursday 28 May 2020 14:15 BST, then here)

Rumpole and the Old Boy Net (on BBC Radio 4 - Thursday 4 June 2020 14:15 BST, then here)

Copenhagen

Benedict Cumberbatch, Greta Scacchi and Simon Russell Beale star in Michael Frayn's award-winning play about the controversial 1941 meeting between physicists Bohr and Heisenberg.

(the photo of the cast recording in studio in Broadcasting House)

On BBC Radio 3 - Sunday 24 May 2020 19:30 BST, then here)